Older individuals often reside in nursing facilities in order to be sure they are safe. However, sometimes, nursing facilities are unsafe and may actually cause harm to patients. A nursing home resident filed a lawsuit in Cook County alleging negligence caused her to break her leg. The woman states that her leg got caught in her wheelchair as she was being wheeled from the shower. The accident fractured her right femur. The lawsuit states that the worker was careless and caused the injury, violating the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act.

Nursing Home Injuries Are Common
Nursing home injuries are all too common. Accidents often happen when caregivers are careless, which may occur due to understaffing, lack of training, or any number of other reasons. Some of the most common injuries include:

· Falls · Broken Bones · Bruises · Head Injuries · Cuts and Scrapes
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are one of the most serious types of nursing home injuries. As many as 1,800 people die each year from a nursing home fall. Broken bones, bruises, and other injuries are not normal and are likely due to some type of careless behavior on the part of nursing home staff.

Negligence in Nursing Homes
Negligence is a common occurrence in nursing facilities. The staff must be properly trained and alert in dealing with elderly residents. Older individuals are more likely to fall and may have trouble walking or moving. In this case, the woman was being transported in a wheelchair, which was under the total control of the nursing home employee. While we don’t know the exact details in this situation, it is important to note that the femur is the largest bone in the body and takes some force to fracture. This is a serious injury, especially to an elderly person, whose bones heal more slowly.

Femur Fractures
A femur fracture is typically very painful and requires a long recovery period, particularly for those who are older. Some serious complications can occur including bone infection, nerve damage, and delayed healing. Leg fractures may require surgery to implant devices to keep the bones in place. Those with broken legs will require a cast for a period of time, to restrict movement. Once the leg is sufficiently healed, the patient will usually require rehabilitation to ensure proper movement returns. The healing process is often very difficult and lengthy for those who are older. Mobility after such an injury will likely be hard.

Nursing Home Negligence
While not all nursing home injuries are due to negligence, many of them are. Any time a resident falls or gets hurt, it is often due to the careless actions of a caregiver. When an injury occurs it must be reported to authorities. Additionally, it is best to speak with a qualified nursing home neglect attorney. Taking care of injuries such as the one this woman suffered requires a lot of time and money. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your medical bills as well as money for pain and suffering due to the negligent actions of the nursing home staff. If you or a loved one was seriously hurt in a nursing home, contact Levin & Perconti for a free consultation to discuss your rights.

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Disclaimer

The purpose of this blog is to deliver news and information that is relevant to our areas of practice. The news and information reported on this blog represent the legal actions of attorneys throughout the United States. Our firm does not claim to represent plaintiffs in all of the lawsuits, settlements, and jury verdicts reported, only those noted as Levin & Perconti cases.